Is Cellphone Usage Altering the Structure of Our Bones?

Is Cellphone Usage Altering the Structure of Our Bones?

Imagine a world where cellphones possess such immense power that they can actually alter the shape of our bones. This thought-provoking concept has recently been making headlines across various media outlets. It stems from a scientific report suggesting that the use of phones and tablets may cause significant and long-lasting changes to our bodies. However, the implications are not what you might expect.

Over the past few years, biomechanics experts David Shahar and Mark Sayers from Australia's University of the Sunshine Coast have conducted a study focusing on how mechanical laws apply to living organisms, ranging from human locomotion to insect flight. Their research also delves into osteobiography, a field that reconstructs a person's life from their bones. It has long been known that skeletons adapt to an individual's lifestyle, with each set of bones telling a unique story.

For example, in 1924, unusually large skeletons were discovered on the Pacific island of Tinian. The presence of stone structures near these skeletons explained the robust nature of the islanders' bones. Through their heavy stone work, their arms, legs, and collarbones had naturally developed into larger proportions. Similarly, Shahar and Sayers believe that modern technology is shaping the skeletons of young people today.

So how does this happen? It all revolves around something called an External Occipital Protuberance (EOP). Some experts and commentators have colorfully described it as a "foam ball" or a "devil-like horn." In reality, the EOP is a bony growth found at the back of the skull, connected to the nuchal ligament—a vital ligament that links neck muscles to the skull. The EOP acts as an anchor atop the nuchal ligament.

Now let's delve into the researchers' actual study. By analyzing X-rays taken by chiropractors from individuals aged 18 to 86, Shahar and Sayers sought to gain insight into how skeletons change. Many of these X-rays were conducted to investigate neck pain, allowing the researchers to explore the potential consequences of these changes on our health.

Shahar and Sayers observed that the EOP appeared to be more prevalent in young people. They hypothesized that the posture adopted by young individuals while constantly checking their phones and tablets was a significant contributing factor. The neck instinctively leans forward, exerting additional pressure on the area where the skull meets the neck muscles. To compensate for this, the EOP gradually lengthens, growing to several millimeters. This phenomenon has been referred to as "text neck."

Their findings also revealed that this condition predominantly affected men. In 2016, Shahar and Sayers reported a higher occurrence of enlarged EOP in 67% of men compared to only 20% of women in a test group of 218 individuals. By 2018, they had examined 1,200 people, with males appearing to be five times more likely to develop these enlarged "text necks."

The potential impact on human health has sparked numerous debates. While there is extensive discourse surrounding phone radiation and its potential link to cancer, this new report has drawn attention to how technology is explicitly affecting our bodies. Shahar and Sayers describe the elongated EOP as a degenerative process, suggesting that the situation could worsen if young people continue their heavy device usage. Additionally, there is a condition known as "text thumb" or thumb arthritis, where the thumb can develop serious problems akin to carpal tunnel syndrome.

Critics have scrutinized the study on EOPs and its references to them as "horns" or "spikes." They argue that the report lacks conclusive evidence and that longer skull bones are not a new phenomenon, especially in males. The general consensus among the study's critics is that there simply isn't enough solid evidence to support the claim that cellphone usage is turning people into real-life versions of "Hellboy."

So, are Shahar and Sayers onto something significant, or have they merely taken well-established facts and woven them into their own explanation? Regardless, there is no denying the profound impact technology has on our lives. The idea that upcoming generations may be undergoing physical changes due to constant interaction with their devices is a serious issue that demands attention.

Ultimately, it will be the archaeologists of the future who determine the validity of these claims. Perhaps they will not encounter individuals with prominent spikes protruding from the back of their necks. Who knows? So, maybe it's time to spend a little more time outdoors and a little less time engrossed in smartphone games.